One way to really sample a city’s local flair is to visit its food markets. Travel guides began listing the largest city market places
ever since culinary activities become an important part of travel. But don’t
forget to ask the locals when to visit the market to see the most interesting
activities and get the scoop on what types of food are carried at the market.
For example, on my recent trip to Montreal, we decided to start our trip at the
Jean Talon market. Jean Talon is famous for its flower and produce stall but
also has several restaurants and take-home food vendors surrounding the main
market. This time of year, the market was booming with herbs, perennials,
tomatoes, beans, strawberries, and asparagus. If you visit toward the end of
the summer the market becomes filled with chili peppers both dried, smoked, and
fresh.
If you’re going to be in a city for an extended stay (4+
nights), consider finding a hotel suite that offers you a kitchen. You can then
stop at the market and load up on the best ingredients. Then, instead of eating
out every night you can cook yourself a meal with the best local ingredients!
Even if you end up in a hotel without a kitchen, you can still buy your
ingredients for a take away lunch.
One thing to be careful of at a market – the samples are
great but they will often load up the vegetables with salt and the fruit with
sugar in order to enhance the flavors.
